What is Christianity, and what makes a Christian a Christian?

[sojourner]

I'm down with that. It makes sense.

My only quibble, then, is that "living one's life wherein Jesus is the impetus" is still pretty ambiguous. The fact we can and do reject completely oddball ways in which people claim to be following Jesus, it means that we still are drawing a line somewhere, where this is "legitimate" Jesus following, and therefore, legitimate Christianity, and this is not legitimate.

Unless those "oddball" ways represent cultural differences. I'm not convinced that there is such a thing as "legitimate" or "illegitimate" Xy, except where there's a blatant disregard for love and openness, which lie at the foundation of what Jesus asks us to do.

 

[sojourner]

some? :no:
i would say everything

Bang! On the head!:yes:

 

[ChristineES]

What if someone calls themselves a Christian yet does everything against His teachings in the Gospels? Is that person still a Christian? (I am not going to say, since I don't want to judge anyone inadvertently).

 

[sojourner]

What if someone calls themselves a Christian yet does everything against His teachings in the Gospels? Is that person still a Christian? (I am not going to say, since I don't want to judge anyone inadvertently).

Jesus addresses that: Not everyone who says, "Lord, Lord..."

 

[idav]

Jesus addresses that: Not everyone who says, "Lord, Lord..."

Jesus might be the best judge for what a christian is. There will be lots of suprised people if he tells them to their face they aren't real christians.

 

[ChristineES]

Jesus might be the best judge for what a christian is. There will be lots of suprised people if he tells them to their face they aren't real christians.

Probably. I just hope I am not one of them. But only God knows our hearts.

 

[sojourner]

Plus, we would do well to remember that God isn't looking for perfect people. Just people who are perfectly human.

 

[ChristineES]

Plus, we would do well to remember that God isn't looking for perfect people. Just people who are perfectly human.

That's very true. There is a bible verse "what is impossible for man [humans] is possible for God".

 

[Pegg]

Probably. I just hope I am not one of them. But only God knows our hearts.

we know our own thoughts and actions


the best test for ourselves is if our thoughts and actions are in harmony with love. Thats what we should be working towards.

 

[NeilPye]

[youtube]9XL8LvaJ9Rc[/youtube]
This video sums up my beliefs nicely, my beliefs being those of a Non-religious Christian

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." - John 10:10

That is the basis of my faith.

To enhance the lives of others and to love wastefully, to love without discretion, regardless of whether they deserve or not. That is my goal in life as a Christian, that I can love wastefully.

A Christian loves wastefully and believes in the central tenets of Jesus Christ - love your enemies, turn the other cheek, be the light in the world of darkness.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

To be a Christian, one must only believe that one is a Christian.

This seems to be where it's heading.

 

[IsmailaGodHasHeard]

A Christian is someone who has changed their mind about their sins and accepted Jesus as their Friend, God, Lord, and Savior?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

A Christian is someone who has changed their mind about their sins and accepted Jesus as their Friend, God, Lord, and Savior?

Saviour from what?

 

[IsmailaGodHasHeard]

Jesus is our Savior fro hell and sin.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Jesus is our Savior fro hell and sin.

Then to be a Christian you must believe in hell and sin. What is sin, and what is Hell?

 

[IsmailaGodHasHeard]

Then to be a Christian you must believe in hell and sin. What is sin, and what is Hell?

In my belief, sin is a failure to trust God. When people stop trusting God, they turn away from Him and sin. And hell is a place of fire created for Satan, his demons, and people who do not know Jesus as their Friend, God, Lord, and Savior.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

In my belief, sin is a failure to trust God. When people stop trusting God, they turn away from Him and sin. And hell is a place of fire created for Satan, his demons, and people who do not know Jesus as their Friend, God, Lord, and Savior.

Then Christians must also believe in Satan, in demons, and that God allows for the torment of not only them but also humans who can survive death. Who is Satan, and what are demons? How does a human survive death?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Well, basically a Christian is anyone who follows the teachings of Christ, or what they believe are his teachings.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Well, basically a Christian is anyone who follows the teachings of Christ, or what they believe are his teachings.

As I have said before, if the interpretation of the teachings is left up to the individual, are two people who claim to be Christians yet interpret scriptures to oppose each other's still both Christians? Is one of them wrong?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

As I have said before, if the interpretation of the teachings is left up to the individual, are two people who claim to be Christians yet interpret scriptures to oppose each other's still both Christians? Is one of them wrong?

It's up to the individual, look at how many denominations there are.